Why raise money for Severn Hospice?

The first time dad went to Severn Hospice it was to go to the day centre. I was not impressed by this one little bit to say the least, after all a hospice is a place for people waiting to die. Then after a few weeks he was then admitted as a patient onto the ward. I was told that doctors there are specialists in cancer and would get his medication correct as by this point he was in pain 24/7. Again I wasn't at all happy at him being in there, in fact I was completely disgusted & appalled by it all. I was worried that being in a gloomy place where people waited to die would have more of a negative impact rather than good.
I went to visit dad on the evening he was admitted. When I arrived I was asked to sign in as a visitor and I was shown through a security locked door. A nurse met me by the reception area of the ward, (she must of sensed my disgust at being there) and showed me around. There was 8 rooms on the ward for patients, a communal kitchen, a peaceful sanctuary, a quiet room and three communal lounges. The nurse told me I could help myself to tea or coffee at anytime from the kitchen and that I could visit dad at anytime of day or night that I wished to. I walked into dads room and as well as dads bed there was a reclining chair, another chair with foot stool, a small table with a couple of chairs around it, a wardrobe, tv and a bathroom twice the size of mine at home. Dad seemed happy so for the moment so was I.
The next day I returned to the hospice, signed in again at reception & was let through the security door by a friendly, smiling receptionist. I then got to see dads room in daylight & with the curtains drawn back. I'd missed the French doors that opened out onto impressively well kept gardens (that's some feat considering it was January). This room did put many hotels to shame!
Throughout the next few days I met the nurses, receptionists and voluntary workers but they were all smiling, happy, laughing and joking. Dad got on great with the nurses and they all seemed to like him. Both myself and the rest of the family used the kitchen to make ourselves drinks. Strangely I actually felt relaxed being there and we filled dads room with family photos.
Over the next few weeks that dad was staying there I chatted to the nurses about anything and everything, I even joked with them and laughed but the cancer was now starting to attack dads body & he was getting considerably worse. I remember one tough day walking out of dads room to be met by a nurse who never said a word she just simply hugged me. Mum stayed at the hospice with dad most nights, the nurses had put a single bed for her in dads room. The nurses at the hospice were not only nursing and caring for dad they were also caring for the whole family.
Dad had good days and bad days. I can recall dad telling a nurse that he would love a can of Carling. The nurse looked at me and told me to go and get him some, I did and dad and I enjoyed a can whilst we chatted. This only lasted about half an hour as dad needed sleep but it was an important moment and the nurse who told me to get the lager obviously knew it. Mum was staying at the hospice and ordered food for herself from the kitchen. It was seriously yummy home-cooked food, I know this because I also ordered a few meals from the kitchen for myself.
Dad did pass away in the hospice on 14th February 2012, the worst day of my life. But yet again the nurses excelled themselves, they were comforting, considerate and extremely thoughtful. The nurses dealt with so much for us and made things so much easier.
But what about all the patients waiting to die? I never once felt whilst I was there that it was a place for people waiting to die. I did get to meet relatives of other patients and also one or two patients themselves but it was joyous and a comfort not awkward or full of gloom. Obviously people do pass away there but the staff are so thoughtful and considerate that no other patient or their relatives ever see anything distressing. I was very wrong in my initial assumptions and shamefully so.
Severn Hospice is about life not death, it has a wonderful sense of calm when you walk in, you can feel and sense it. The whole ethos of life can be felt throughout every area of the building and through its staff.
The nurses are living angels at the hospice and so are the support staff, volunteers and all the other staff that work behind the scenes. They treat the dignity and care of patients as a priority yet relatives are never forgotten. Dad was blessed to of been in their care and I'm blessed to have met some truly wonderful people. So that's why I will raise money for Severn Hospice it's my way of saying thank you.